Princess of Denmark and Norway Vilhelmine Marie Princess of Norway and Denmark Date of Birth: 18.01.1808 Country: Germany

Princess Wilhelmina Marie of Norway and Denmark: A Biography

Princess Wilhelmina Marie of Norway and Denmark was born into royalty as the youngest daughter of Frederick VI of Denmark and his wife, Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel. Her paternal grandfather, Christian VII of Denmark, suffered from severe mental health issues, and as a result, Frederick VI served as regent from 1784. Just two months after Wilhelmina's birth, her grandfather passed away from a brain aneurysm, and the throne was inherited by her father.

As Frederick VI had no living sons, Wilhelmina's hand in marriage was highly sought after. Among her potential suitors was Oscar I of Sweden, from the recently established Bernadotte dynasty. On November 1, 1828, Wilhelmina Marie married Prince Frederick of Denmark, who would later become King Frederick VII. The engagement had been officially announced in 1825. The marriage united two prominent branches of Danish aristocracy and was well-received by the people, with extravagant celebrations featuring illuminations, festivities, and more.

Unfortunately, the marriage was far from happy. The main issue was Frederick's disorderly lifestyle, characterized by excessive drinking and multiple infidelities. Wilhelmina was a kind and gentle woman, but lacked the firmness to influence her husband. Her parents deeply worried about her troubled married life, and by 1834, the couple had separated, officially divorcing in 1837.

On May 19, 1838, Wilhelmina remarried Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, the elder brother of future King Christian IX of Denmark. This second marriage proved to be more fortunate for the princess, although they did not have any children. There are reasons to believe that Wilhelmina suffered from infertility, as there are no records of miscarriages or stillborn children. During the First Schleswig War, her husband actively opposed Denmark, which strained her relationship with the Danish royal family. Wilhelmina resided in Dresden during the war. It was not until 1852 that she managed to reconcile with her relatives, and she successfully restored her reputation among the Danish people. She frequently visited her family in Copenhagen and lived periodically with her husband in Louisenlund Castle.

In 1870, Wilhelmina settled in Glücksburg Castle, where she would spend the rest of her life. Karl passed away in 1878, leaving her in a somewhat isolated state. She faced significant hearing problems, making her social life more challenging. Nevertheless, she actively engaged in charitable activities, earning the love and admiration of the people of Glücksburg. Despite her struggles and the lack of popular affection for her husband, Wilhelmina remained a resilient and respected member of the royal family until her passing.